The Wyoming Game and Fish Department will hold a public meeting in Cheyenne on Aug. 2 to discuss their current financial situation and funding needs of the agency in future years.  The meeting will be held at Game and Fish Headquarters, Elk Room, at 7 p.m.

                The meeting will also be broadcast to Game and Fish regional offices and the agency will be streaming the meeting over the Internet.  This will allow people to participate from their computer at home, from Game and Fish regional offices, and the Cheyenne Game and Fish headquarters.   The link to participate in the webcast is: http://bit.ly/Game-n-Fish. When prompted, people on home computers can enter their name and then log in to the meeting.

                To address short-term funding shortfalls, the Game and Fish Department cut their fiscal year 2013 budget, and is planning budget cuts for the next few fiscal years.  In addition, the department is researching and will seek legislative approval of license fee adjustments in 2013; the agency is also investigating new nontraditional funding sources.

Game and Fish Director Scott Talbott will be speaking on the value of wildlife-related recreation to Wyoming’s economy and the challenges facing Wyoming’s wildlife resource.

 “I don’t believe there has been a time in the history of our state when there has been a greater number and variety of challenges facing our wildlife,” said Talbott.  “The single most important challenge facing the future management of wildlife is the lack of adequate funding for management and conservation.”

According to the Game and Fish Department, new funding sources will be needed in addition to the traditional user fees (hunting and fishing licenses) to fund wildlife conservation in the long-term.

Information on the WGFD’s financial status, funding needs, and changing economic environment is available on the Game and Fish website http://wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/wgfd-1000880.aspx.

The Game and Fish Department supports the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Every effort will be made for reasonable accommodations by contacting the nearest Game and Fish Office.